Well of valour

Conservationist Rajnish Khosla has now written to the British high commissioner seeking an official apology for the brutalities on Indian soldiers.

| TNN | Mar 5, 2014, 06.12 AM IST

AMRITSAR: Though late, the government has jumped into action following the recovery of mortal remains of soldiers who were killed by the British regime during India's first freedom struggle in 1857 and their bodies dumped into Shaheedan Wala Khu in Ajnala.

Even as the demand for an official apology from British government for the brutal massacre has become shriller, the department of cultural affairs, archaeology and museum has woken up and has declared that it would do everything to honour and preserve the remains. Local people and conservationists have also demanded to preserve the old Tehsil building in Ajnala where hundreds of hapless soldiers were bundled in a small room leading to their death due to asphyxiation.

Conservationist Rajnish Khosla has now written to the British high commissioner seeking an official apology for the brutalities on Indian soldiers. During the three-day excavation of the well, which was earlier known as Kalianwala Khu, 90 human skulls, 170 jaws, around 5,000 teeth, 70 coins of Re 1 denomination of East India Company, two Victoria medals, gold amulet, rings, etc were recovered.

The management committee of Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj believes that 282 soldiers were buried in the well. The digging was carried out by management of Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj, local volunteers and historians without any help from the government.

"We will do everything possible or whatever is required as per the aspirations of local people," said S S Channi, principal secretary, department of cultural affairs, archaeology and museums. While shrugging off the responsibility for excavating, he said the land where the well was situated was not in government's control. "I think there was some building at the site and it was not a government land," he said.

TEAM FROM W BENGAL

A media delegation from West Bengal is likely to visit Ajnala to have first hand information about Shaheedan Wala Khu believed to have remains of Bengali soldiers who were brutally murdered and buried by British during India's first freedom struggle in 1857.

District tourism officer Balraj Singh, who is in Kolkota, told TOI that he had informed West Bengal media about the discovery of mortal remains of soldiers in Ajnala. "They are very curious to preserve the past and have shown interest to visit Ajnala," he said. Balraj said he had written to the government for the excavation of the well and promoting it as one of the major spots for tourists. "Who wouldn't want to visit a place where soldiers made supreme sacrifice for us," he said.

OLD TEHSIL BUILDING

The dilapidated structure of the Old Tehsil building now lies in utter neglect and many parts of the building have been encroached upon and shops have come up in its vicinity. According to historians, on the fateful day many soldiers were bundled in the small room of the Tehsil like sardines, resulting into their death. The administration has put up a small board stating that the site is a protected monument under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1964.

CONG FOR MEMORIAL

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday demanded to build a suitable memorial for Sikh soldiers who were killed and buried unidentified by the British government during 1857 mutiny. He blamed the state government for not giving due honour to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for national cause. He flayed chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for his callous attitude towards national martyrs. He demanded cremation of soldiers whose mortal remains have been extracted from 'Shaheedi Khuh" in Ajnala with military honours and declare them national martyrs.

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